Craft Menu System Using Caller Id Functionality for Installation and Testing

1. A broadband network termination apparatus for coupling a premises network to a broadband network and provide broadband data services to the premises network, comprising: a first data port adapted to receive a cable operably coupled to the broadband network, and a further voice services data port adapted to receive a cable operably coupled to the premises network; a processor operably programmed for providing at least one of installation and test menus to a test set using inbound Caller ID-compatible signaling, and for receiving user response input from the test set using outbound DTMF signaling.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a memory coupled to the processor and operably programmed, in response to a registration code from the test set, to cause the apparatus to be registered with a service provider by forwarding a registration message via the broadband network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a memory coupled to the processor and operably programmed, in response to an activity code input by the user, to provide the user with a series of prompts and indicators concerning a test of at least one of the apparatus and a networking service.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is an optical network terminator operable for coupling the premises network to a passive optical network.

5. A broadband network termination system comprising: a network termination device, said device comprising a processor operably programmed for providing at least one of installation and test menus to, and receiving user response input from, a test set; and a test set comprising a display and a user input, the test set operable for receiving inbound Caller ID-compatible signaling carrying said at least one of installation and test menus and converting the received Caller ID-compatible signaling into a user-readable output via the display, and further operable for responding to said signaling by forwarding a user selection via the user input to the network termination device; whereby at least one of installation and tests of the network termination device are performed responsive to the user selections.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the test set is a BUTT set and the network termination device is an optical network terminator operable for coupling the premises network to a passive optical network.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the display of the BUTT set is a Caller ID display, and the user input comprises a numeric key pad and DTMF generator operable for converting user data input via the numeric key into outbound signaling.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the optical network terminator further comprises a memory coupled to the processor and operably programmed, in response to an activity code input by the user, to provide the user with a series of prompts and indicators concerning a test of at least one of the apparatus and a networking service.

9. A method for setting up a network termination between a broadband network and a premises network comprising the steps of: a. operably coupling a network termination device and a test set device; b. providing an access code to the network termination device via the test set device, and sending a response from the network termination device to a user of the test set device via a display operable for displaying Caller ID-compatible data on the test set device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network termination device is an optical network terminator (ONT) operable for coupling the premises network to a passive optical network and the test set is a BUTT set, wherein the step of providing an access code comprises sending a registration code entered via a key pad on the BUTT set to the ONT.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of sending a response comprises sending a confirmation message to the BUTT set indicative of one of a successful registration or a failed registration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the registration code is sent to the ONT as a DTMF signal, step b. further comprising forwarding the registration code as a data message from the ONT to a further network processor operable for registering the ONT for services and responding with a confirmation code, wherein the step of sending a response to a user further comprises sending the confirmation code in a Caller-ID format for display via the BUTT set.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the registration code is echoed back to the BUTT set by the ONT before the step of forwarding the data message to the further network processor.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the network termination device is an optical network terminator (ONT) operable for coupling the premises network to a passive optical network and the test set is a BUTT set, wherein the step of providing an access code comprises sending a code indicative of a first test, entered via an input of the BUTT set, to the ONT.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of sending a response further comprises sending a menu prompt for display via the BUTT set, the method further comprising: c. providing a selection message to the ONT in response to user input of a selection following display of the menu prompt via the BUTT set.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein step c. further comprises the ONT performing an activity in response to the selection message, and sending a message indicative of the activity to the BUTT set.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of performing an activity comprises one of initiating a test and retrieving a test result, and the step of sending a message indicative of the activity comprises sending to the BUTT set a report message indicating one or more test results.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the registration code is sent to the ONT as a DTMF signal, step b. further comprising forwarding the registration code as a data message from the ONT to a further network processor operable for registering the ONT for services and responding with a confirmation code, wherein the step of sending a response to a user further comprises sending the confirmation code in a Caller-ID format for display via the BUTT set.